Clark, Kane Winning Bucks Judicial Races

Controller Ward F. Clark and District Attorney Michael J. Kane were on their way last night to winning the two judicial seats up for election on the Bucks County ballot.

In an election marked by a low turnout of voters, Republicans Kane and Clark appeared to be easy victors over Democrats Richard S. Hoffmann, the county clerk of courts, and Doylestown Township attorney William H.R. Casey.

It was far from a lively race, owing greatly to judicial rules that prohibit candidates for judgeships to talk about issues during their campaigns. They are limited in their campaigns to presenting their own qualifications to the electorate.

The apparent victories by Kane and Clark represent achievements of personal goals by the candidates, both of whom had rough beginnings in their quests for seats on the bench.

Kane, 42, of Buckingham Township, has been district attorney since 1979. Late last year he announced that he would seek a seat on the 11-member Court of Common Pleas, however he was unable to win an endorsement for the race from the Bucks County Republican Committee.

Instead of dropping out of the spring primary, Kane developed a strong campaign without party backing and easily won a place on the GOP ticket. He called on a group of present and past prosecutors to act as his campaign workers. His upset victory in the spring was seen as a blow to the Republican hierarchy in Doylestown.

Clark, perhaps bruised from an unsuccessful campaign for the state Superior Court in 1983, was hesitant to run for the county court this year. He twice changed his mind before agreeing to run for the court.

A former district attorney, the 57-year-old resident of Doylestown Township has been an aggressive county controller for the past eight years. In addition to serving as controller, Clark has maintained a criminal and civil law practice in Doylestown.

Clark and Kane, both of whom have spent years in public life, had the advantage of name recognition on their side. They also took advantage of the Republican Party's lead in voter registration. There are about 17,000 more Republicans than Democrats eligible to vote in the general election.

The election means a return to the clerk of courts office for Hoffmann and private practice for Casey.

Hoffmann, a 55-year-old resident of Middletown Township, is in his second term as chief custodian of criminal court records. He remains a popular office-holder among Democratic leaders in Bucks County.

Casey, 47, maintains a law office in Richboro. He is a former member of the Bucks County Community College Authority and was once the chief counsel to the state Senate Appropriations Committee.

In a related contest, Judge Paul R. Beckert was approved by the voters for another 10-year term. Beckert, of Langhorne, ran on a retention ballot. According to scattered unofficial returns, a majority of the voters cast ballots in favor of Beckert's retention.